LEWISBURG – The comparisons are unfair but inevitable. And everyone whispers them around here.

That the current back-to-back Patriot League regular-season champions simply aren't of the stock of the giant-killing Bucknell Bison of 2005-06. Specifically, that they just aren't as tough defensively.

That sort of sentiment will gain more ammo after Lehigh's 82-77 defeat of the Bison on Wednesday night before a wild sellout gathering on BU's home court, Sojka Pavilion.

Then again, that mid-aughts team never had to guard anyone remotely of the caliber of C.J. McCollum.

The Patriot League's player of the year, a super-slick big guard from Canton, Ohio, could not be stopped when it mattered. McCollum made all of the biggest plays, some improbable shots, scored 29 points and embodied the overall swagger on enemy turf for his Mountain Hawks teammates in a memorable PL final. He doesn't belong in this league.

The reward: A second NCAA tournament berth in three years. For the Bison, the National Invitation Tournament will have to be the consolation prize it almost always is. It will not be sufficient for a team that played with resilience and fight under the constant burden of a game-long deficit.

“You have to give a lot of credit to Lehigh,” said BU's gracious coach Dave Paulsen. “We did a great defensive job against them the first two games [both contests in the 50s]. But they came out and really made some shots and got contributions from different guys.”

Most telling was that of 6-9 Gabe Knutson who surprisingly played BU's 2011 Patriot POY Mike Muscala to, if not a draw, something close to it. He collected 23 points and 7 boards and displayed a lot of post-up nerve that set a tone in the first half. Knutson had a combined 13 and 11 in the teams' first two meetings this year.

Muscala certainly got his. Were it not for the big Minnesotan's relentless work on the low blocks (30 points, 14 boards) that included 14 free throws in 16 attempts, this game would've been a visitors' runaway. He did it all on a sore ankle turned in practice on Monday.

Still, the earnest Muscala somehow blamed himself for the game's singular play, a judgment that was unfounded. Off a pair of missed free throws by Lehigh point guard Mackey McKnight, Bucknell brought the ball down with 27 seconds left, down 78-77. They had managed to tie the game 50-50 and had several chances to go ahead in the second half but never had done so.

Cameron Ayers entered the ball to Muscala on the right high blocks early in the possession but he looked uncomfortable with his depth and kicked it back out to Ayers at the top.

“I should've been a little more aggressive there and taken him off the first play,” said Muscala afterward. “I let my team down there.”

Not exactly. The Bison (24-9) still developed a clear chance to score. The 6-5 son of former 76ers and Ohio State coach Randy Ayers juggled the high pass but controlled it and set off on a circuitous drive around the right side going against the 5-10 McKnight.

Lehigh was switching on all screens. And McKnight gave up his man to the 6-9 Knutson just as Ayers entered big man's territory near the hoop. Which left the tiny McKnight attempting to check the foot-taller Muscala deep in the lane.

“I was a little worried about that,” said a smiling Knutson as McCollum broke into a big grin.

But Ayers just kept driving to the hole.

“Usually when a guard gets switched off onto a big guy, he's gonna look to attack that,” said Knutson.

Ayers did. He attempted a scoop on the far side of the rim. But Knutson flicked it away and it was immediately corralled by... who else? McCollum was fouled with :04.1 showing and calmly strode to the line and buried the free throws for an 80-77 lead.

Bucknell's subsequent long in-bounds pass was intercepted at mid-court by Jordan Hamilton who was bearhugged by Muscala. His free throws at :03.4 finished it. It was sweet retribution for a Lehigh team that drew a line in the sand here Feb. 16 by snapping Bucknell's 12-game winning streak.

“We grew up a little bit tonight,” said McCollum. “It was a great win all around.”

Lehigh took command early and never trailed. They not only were in charge on the scoreboard but looked that way in demeanor despite having invaded a madhouse.

McCollum hit every manner of shots -- catch-and-shoot threes, spinning fadeaways, and silky drives to the hoop. He is a rare talent in this league, certainly its best guard ever.

But a first half that belonged to Lehigh's defensive quickness with leads as large as 11 points (36-25) eventually gave way to a Bucknell comeback in the second made more of will than skill.

Muscala's tenacity, a courageous floor game by freshman point guard Steven Kaspar and a couple of late threes by previously inconsequential shooting guard Bryson Johnson got the Bison their chance on the final possession. But the better team won.

“It was like a prize fight, which we thought it would be,” said Paulsen. “But we just couldn't get the stops to get us over the hump.”

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